The Ring of Kerry & South West Ireland

Take this opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful corners of the Emerald Isle as you explore the lakes and mountains of the Ring of Kerry.

Ring of Kerry

Ross Castle Day One – Fly to Ireland Fly to Ireland, meet your tour manager and transfer by coach to your hotel.

Day Two – Included visits to Bantry House,

Glengarriff and Garnish Island This morning, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Bantry House, the ancestral home of the Earls of Bantry, and still lived in by the family. Wonderfully situated overlooking the eponymous bay and set in magnificent Italian gardens inspired by the travels of the 2nd Earl, this house showcases eclectic antiques and artefacts from around the world. You’ll then head off to see Glengarriff. This delightful village, overlooking the waters of Bantry Bay and set against the backdrop of the rugged Caha Mountains, is a green oasis enjoying a balmy microclimate in which subtropical plants and even bamboos flourish. You can explore its array of bars, cafés, and gift shops before taking a short boat trip across the bay to the renowned island gardens of Garnish. The gardens here are laid out in beautiful walks and offer floral colour from May right through until October. As the tour crosses the bay, you’ll also visit Seal Island, with its resident colony of seals who love to pose for photographs, so get your camera ready!

Day Three – Included Killarney National

Park tour and cruise on Lough Leane Life slows right down this morning as you’ll head to Killarney National Park. Here, you’ll enjoy an hour-long ride in a horse-drawn jaunting car

what our customers say...

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip! Our hotel, Westlodge, was excellent. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and we found the food to be delicious. Tom

Available May to Jul, Sep, Oct 2023

Fly direct from these airports. Prices from

• Edinburgh £965 • Manchester £965 • Heathrow £975 • Stansted £965 Tour Only without flights from £770

Travel at your convenience on selected dates by making your own arrangements to the airport or your hotel. Room for Sole Use add £225

Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Killarney National Park Ireland

Lough Leane

Glenngarriff Garnish Island Bantry Cork

Cobh

• Stroll around the historic Bantry House with time to view its delightful Italianinspired gardens • Explore the pretty village of Glengarriff overlooking Bantry Bay • Spot seals on a scenic boat trip to Garnish

Island and its famous gardens • Ramble on a horse-drawn jaunting car through Killarney National Park • Take to the waters of Lough Leane on a leisurely boat ride • Visit the fascinating Cobh Heritage Centre (entry payable locally) • Traverse the enchanting landscapes surrounding the Ring of Kerry • Five nights’ dinner, bed and Irish breakfast accommodation at the four-star Westlodge

Hotel, Bantry • Return flights to Cork, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

our product manager loves...

The Ring of Kerry is a 179km circular route, which offers magnificent scenery, fantastic attractions, and a warm Irish welcome.

Seals at Glengarriff Glengarriff Harbour Bantry House

(Ireland’s most traditional mode of transport, and the only kind allowed in the National Park). As you ramble along, you’ll learn about the history, legends, and folklore of the region from your local guide. The ride ends at the edge of Lough Leane, close to Ross Castle, where you’ll board the Pride of the Lakes for a scenic cruise on the lough. As you glide along the calm waters, you’ll discover the lough’s scattered islands and lovely views. Throughout the trip, your experienced skipper will regale you with facts about the flora, fauna, and historical heritage of the area. There really is no better way to enjoy the hidden delights of the park and the famous Killarney Lakes. You’ll then have a couple of hours free to enjoy the delightful town of Killarney at your leisure. Watch the world go by in one of the many pubs and cafés, take a look around the shops and pick up a memento, or perhaps visit the magnificent St Mary’s cathedral.

Day Four – Included visits to Cork and Cobh

Today, you’ll head to lively, cosmopolitan Cork. The waterways, narrow alleys, Georgian avenues, and myriad of bridges make this historic maritime city a delight to explore. Highlights include triple-spired St Finn Barre’s cathedral and the English Market, where you’ll discover an astonishing array of fresh produce. Afterwards, you’ll head to the historic and delightful seaside town of Cobh (pronounced Cove), the departure point for over three million Irish emigrants and the final port of call, in April 1912, for the ill-fated RMS Titanic. After time to enjoy lunch, you may choose to visit the excellent Heritage Centre (entrance fee payable locally), where a multi-media exhibition tells the emotive story of Irish emigration through to the 1950s and traces the town’s history back to the 1600s. Day Five – Tour the Ring of Kerry A long but memorable day awaits, today, as you head to the celebrated Ring of Kerry. Stretching west from the picturesque town of Kenmare, this 110-mile circular route around the sublimely beautiful Iveragh Peninsula takes in a beguiling mix of stunning views and charming towns, rugged forest landscapes, tumbling waterfalls and the raging waters of the Atlantic. It’s a rollercoaster of scenic wonder, and a feast of breathtaking land- and seascapes. During the day, you’ll cross the magnificent Coomakista Pass, with its views of the Kenmare River, and see Macgillycuddy’s Reeks from Molls Gap. Here, you can also catch sight of the monastic marvel of Skellig Michael out in the Atlantic. You’ll have the chance to explore pretty Waterville and rugged Cahersiveen before returning to your hotel for the final evening. Day 6 – Fly back to the UK Head back to the airport at the end of a wonderful few days in this beautiful and unspoiled part of Ireland.

your hotel

Westlodge Hotel, Bantry HHHH Half-Board

In vast, landscaped gardens on the outskirts of lively Bantry, the Westlodge offers a lounge, bar and restaurant as well as a wide range of amenities, including a well-equipped leisure centre with sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room, indoor pool and gym, tennis court and pitch and putt. Comfortable rooms have TV, tea/coffee-making facilities, a hairdryer and there is free Wi-Fi in public areas.

Westlodge Hotel

fun fact...

Skellig Michael provided the location shots for the refuge of Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017) movies.

Westlodge Hotel The Ring of Kerry